The Vigilante by Harry85

Rating: R
Genres: Romance, Action & Adventure
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 7
Published: 18/04/2008
Last Updated: 25/04/2008
Status: Completed

Hermione is not happy of how things go at the Ministry and takes matters in her hands, enlisting
Harry's help without really telling him why...




1. A Farce of a Trial
---------------------



**Disclaimer:** Not mine, otherwise Harmony would have sailed.

**A/N:** My reply to the “Vigilante” challenge by Leochick, you can find it here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26730
. Hope you will enjoy the story, and please if you read review and let me know what you think of
it, ok?

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

**The Vigilante**

**Chapter One: A Farce of a Trial**

Hermione Granger was moderately bright, that morning. Working as a Magical Law Enforcement
officer, she was in charge of most trials for criminals, who more often than not were remaining
Death Eaters captured by one of her best friends, Harry Potter, currently on his way to become Head
of the Auror Department, the youngest to do so since the Department had been founded a couple
centuries earlier.

Today, Hermione would have to conduct yet another trial, and she hoped this time no funny
business would happen. Since Kingsley had stepped down as an interim Minister and a regular
election had assigned the spot to Darius Vunrabels, a charismatic man who knew how to pull the
masses on his side with his eloquence and his long, charming speeches, Hermione had found her job
becoming increasingly difficult, with obviously guilty murderers declared innocent by the jury.

She knew something strange was going on in the Ministry, and rumours of bribes being handed to
the Minister to keep some people out of Azkaban were running through both her and Harry's
department. It was in times like these that she wished she had followed Ron's advice and stayed
away from the Ministry. Their redheaded friend was currently Keeper for the Chudley Cannons, his
dream to play for his favourite team having come true thanks to extensive training, and the natural
skill he found in their fifth year at Hogwarts.

So, one might ask why she was bright, albeit not too much, that morning. Well, she would have to
conduct the trial for Rabastan Lestrange, and there was no bloody way the man could be declared
innocent with all what he had done in both the wars. It had taken Harry months, but finally he had
captured the man, and Hermione would do her best to make him pay for his crimes.

She was sure no bribe could stop her when confronted with such hard evidence.

“Rabastan Lestrange, you are here to be judged about these accusations: Being a Death Eater;
having used the Unforgivable Curses in various occasions, ranging from Imperius to the Killing
Curse; having tortured and persecuted Muggle-borns and Muggles” Hermione read from her parchment,
while standing up in front of the whole Wizengamot. Harry was present too, as part of the security
attending the trial. He gave her an encouraging smile, and Hermione felt her enthusiasm double.

She wouldn't waste long months of Harry's work. She could do it, Lestrange deserved
Azkaban and that was what he would get.

Right?

Well, when Hermione was done with the accusations, she brought forth evidence of the crimes
perpetrated by him, interrogating various testimonies and revealing that his wand had cast at least
once the Killing Curse, as that was the last spell cast.

Using Unforgivables even once landed anyone in Azkaban, so Hermione felt pretty confident that
this time she would succeed. However, she started having doubts when the defence started talking
about him being under Imperius.

“Oh, god, not that bullshit again” she groaned, standing up again.

“Very well, then” she interrupted. “Let's use Veritaserum and listen to what he has to say”
she suggested, and the smug grin of the defending lawyer chilled her to the bones.

They had something up their sleeve, she knew it.

“Agreed” he drawled, and the potion was brought forth. Rabastan Lestrange drank it, and then he
was asked questions.

“Were you a Death Eater under your own will?” Hermione asked.

“No”

She looked at him shocked. “Were you under Imperius when you accepted to join Voldemort?” she
continued nonetheless.

“Yes”

Now Hermione was almost shaking with rage. How could he resist the Veritaserum?

“Did you use the Unforgivable curses on your own will?” she asked then, almost desperately.
Harry was frowning in the back of the room, and she didn't want to disappoint him.

“No”

Hermione slumped on her chair. “What is the verdict of the jury?” she wearily asked. “Those who
vote for guilty, lift your hand”

Only twenty did.

“Who votes for innocent, raise your hand” she instructed then, already knowing what would
happen. As predicted, all the remaining members of the Wizengamot voted for innocent, and Rabastan
Lestrange was released, with excuses from the Ministry for the mistake, which he “benevolently”
accepted.

Hermione gaped at the retreating back of the man almost incredulous. She couldn't believe
another one had slipped through the fingers of justice.

“This is getting ridiculous” she muttered as she left the hall too, casually grabbing the empty
vial of Veritaserum. She had a nagging suspicions that she would need to check later.

“Hey, Mione” Harry approached her.

“What?” she snapped, but then immediately softened. “Sorry, Harry. I'm just a bit tense”

“I can believe that” he said, giving her an apologetic smile. “I'm sorry it ended this way
again” he said, pulling her into a comforting hug, as they Disapparated to her flat. A new habit
Harry had started was to make lunch for Hermione, hopefully to cheer her up, on days when something
like this happened, and she couldn't help grinning at him.

“You always know how to lift my spirits, Harry” she said as he put the still warm lasagne on the
table, touching his hand with her own. He looked up, surprised at the gesture, but grinned
back.

“You deserve it, and those jerks in the Wizengamot aren't worth your anger” Harry honestly
said, squeezing her hand. “I've never really had much faith in them anyway” he shrugged, and
Hermione nodded. Simply a year ago she would have fought him over his pessimistic views about the
ministry, but right now she was pretty sure herself that the whole institution wasn't anything
more than a group of corrupted buffoons who thwarted the hard work of the few who actually
dedicated themselves to their job.

“That trial today has been a farce” she growled, picking at her food with her fork.

“Miss Granger, do I need to remind you that it's bad manners to play with your food?” Harry
said in his best McGonagall imitation and she peered at him for a moment before she burst laughing,
him following suit immediately after.

They finished eating chatting amiably about anything but the Ministry and the trials, then Harry
checked his watch, and shot her an apologetic look.

“Mione, I'm sorry but I really need to go back to work now, I've a meeting with
Hellejorn in ten minutes. You rest and distract yourself. If I got him once, I can catch him again,
so don't worry about that, ok?” he said, kissing her on the forehead, and then rushing out of
the flat once she had assured him she would take it easy that afternoon.

Truth was that she spent the rest of the day analysing the remnants of the potion in the vial,
and when around dinner time she got the final results, she growled, flinging the glass container
against the nearest wall and shattering it in a million pieces.

“It wasn't Veritaserum!” she shrieked. “Now it's clear why that moron smirked smugly, he
knew it already! It is clear someone has been tampering with the potion stacks of the Ministry,
substituting the Veritaserum with Relaxing Draught!” she hissed, her eyes narrowed.

So much for a relaxing afternoon…

But this had to stop. Hermione knew until this Minister was in his place, things would never
change in official trials. She had to figure out another way to punish those who deserved it.

The brunette witch skipped dinner, too wrapped up in her theories on how to ensure those who
deserved it would turn themselves in. The Minister could do nothing against a written confession,
after all.

It was almost two in the morning when finally she had the right idea, and so she smiled to the
darkness still enveloping London.

“The Wizarding World needs a night-time vigilante, and I know just who can help me do this” she
smirked to herself, finally deciding she better get some rest, and going to take a long, luscious
hot shower to relieve her body from the tension of the day, before she changed into her nightgown
and slipped under the sheets of her bed, the usual dreams about a certain wizard populating her
slumber.

-->



2. Training, Part I
-------------------



**Disclaimer:** Not mine, otherwise Harmony would have sailed.

**A/N:** My reply to the “Vigilante” challenge by Leochick, you can find it here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26730
. Hope you will enjoy the story, and please if you read review and let me know what you think of
it, ok?

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

**The Vigilante**

**Chapter Two: Training, part I**

That Saturday, like every weekend, Harry went to Hermione's flat. They had gotten into a
routine of spending the day together, since Ron was always away with the Cannons and Ginny had
moved to France with her husband. Neville was currently at Hogwarts as Herbology teacher so that
left the two of them of their group of friends from school. Since both were currently single, they
had decided they better not spend the weekend alone, and instead get together to relax a bit, maybe
get lunch somewhere nice, and then go see a movie.

Imagine his surprise when he banged on her door, and no one replied. He tried a couple times
more, thinking that maybe she had just been sleeping in and hadn't woken up yet.

It was strange though. In all the years of their friendship Hermione had never woken up later
than eight o'clock, and right now it was half past ten.

The raven haired wizard was just about to unlock the door with his wand, worried that something
might have happened to her, when he felt someone running up the stairs, and turned just to be met
with the sight of a very sweaty Hermione, dressed in a sports bra and a pair of very tight
shorts.

For a moment she seemed almost surprised to see him there, then she realized what day it was,
and grinned.

“Harry! Sorry to have kept you waiting, I forgot today was Saturday” she said, unlocking the
door and inviting him in.

Harry gulped as she walked past him, her hips swaying, her round bum wriggling in front of him
with her every step.

“So…” he croaked, tearing his gaze away from her body. “Have you started running in the
morning?” he asked, and she nodded, offering him a toast with strawberry jam, while she put the
coffee on the fire.

“Yeah, I started a couple days ago, I haven't a lot of stamina yet but I can already see
I'm improving” she said, obviously proud of her training program, and completely oblivious of
Harry's discomfort at having her dressed like that. They were now sitting at her kitchen table
and he could see her nipples pushing against the sports bra, which did nothing to hide how well
developed her breasts were, the skin on her arms glistening with a thin layer of sweat, her brown
curly hair styled in a ponytail.

She looked gorgeous, the hottest woman he had ever seen. Gulping again, he forced himself to
focus on the conversation and not how good his female best friend looked.

He wasn't supposed to have those kinds of thoughts about her, right?

“Would you like to join me in my training program?” Hermione asked, putting her own plan into
motion. If she could get him to help her tone her body, she would be much faster, given his
experience both with Quidditch training in school and Auror training he would prove to be a
valuable source of information on the most useful exercises and such. “Not that you need it” she
hastily added, eyeing his broad shoulders, his tones arms, and wondering for a moment how would it
be to be held by them, be crushed against his chest in the haste of a passionate kiss, how would it
be to run her hands across those muscles of his.

Harry was no body-builder, but she had noticed how he had completely transformed from the
scrawny eleven year old she met on the Express so many years ago into a young man with an imposing
figure, a body that conveyed masculinity every time she looked at him.

Feeling the telltale tingle of her starting arousal settle between her legs, she knew she needed
to stop staring, and forced herself to go check on the coffee, and bring him a cup of it, no sugar,
as he preferred it dark and strong.

He nodded his thanks to her when she pushed the mug in front of him, and finally, after taking
along sip, he answered her question.

“I'd love to. More physical training can't be bad, right?” he said, flashing her his
signature boyish grin, and for a moment Hermione felt light-headed.

“Well, then, come on, you lazy pig. I'm already five minutes late for my push-ups and weight
lifting!” she called, swatting him lightly on the shoulder as she passed near him, heading to the
living room.

Harry followed her and was amazed to see it changed to a real gym.

“Don't worry, it's mostly transfigured equipment, it will go back to normal in a couple
hours” she explained, and Harry followed her voice to the floor, where she was already doing some
sit-ups.

The way her body moved was transfixing, and Harry found himself staring again, before he even
knew it.

“What? Am I doing them wrong?” Hermione asked, self-consciously, when he kept gazing at her
almost with his mouth hanging open. That shook him from his daze.

“Uh? No, no, you're doing them just fine” Harry said, starting to strip before joining
her.

“I hope you won't mind” he said, after he had transfigured his trousers to a pair of shorts,
“but I always do my training this way” he added, removing his shirt and remaining bare-chested.

“W-Why should I mind? I'm not much more dressed after all” she stammered, watching how his
muscles moved under his skin as he started doing some stretching. When Harry finally joined her on
the carpet, she was still staring, he caught her and smirked to himself.

“Seems I'm not the only one having fun watching” he thought.

All morning they worked out, and just before lunch they decided to have a shower.

Harry said he might better go change at home, but Hermione wouldn't have any of that.

“Nonsense, Harry. You're already here, and your shirt is not sweaty and when you change back
your shorts to your trousers, they will be as good as new” she said. “You just need a good shower
and you can do that here” she suggested. “After me, of course” she added then, smirking, as she ran
inside the bathroom.

Harry dashed after her but she managed to lock herself in before he entered.

“Now behave, Potter, and no peeking, ok?” she called out and he grunted.

“You bloody witch” she heard him mumbling, and grinned to herself as she got under the hot spray
of water, her hands caressing her skin, removing the sweat but also imagining it was Harry's
hands running all over her. Merlin, how she would love to have him there with her right now!

She had always had a crush on him, since third year at least, but it was only during their
Horcrux hunt that she came to accept the fact her fancy wasn't going away anytime soon, because
she was utterly in love with him.

Sighing, she dried herself off, and after securing the towel around her body, she opened the
door.

“Harry, you can come in now if you want” she said, wrapping her hair with another towel to dry
it. Her best friend came in from the kitchen, a half eaten biscuit in his hand.

“Merlin, Hermione” he said, almost huskily Hermione noticed, “you want to give me an heart
attack, don't you?” he said, snapping his eyes closed.

Hermione realized the reason of his reaction and giggled. “Are you embarrassed, Mr. Potter?” she
coyly said, and heard him slightly groan before he rushed into the bathroom and locked himself
in.

Hermione smiled to herself as she went to get dressed in her bedroom.

Meanwhile, Harry was taking a cold shower. Seeing Hermione with only that towel on made him want
to take her right there in the hallway, but he suspected it was way out of line for best
friends.

“But is best friends all I want to be with her?” he asked himself while he calmed down from his
arousal.

It had been a while since he had started noticing signs of possibly being attracted to Hermione,
the fact he had hated all of her boyfriends since she had broken up with Ron being the first, then
there was the fact he always noticed how she furrowed her brows when something didn't please
her, how she bit her lip in concentration, how she twirled her curls around her finger as she
read…well, you get the meaning.

Resting his forehead against the glass of the shower stall, he sighed. He knew he was falling
for his best friend and he didn't know if he had the strength to fight it. Heck, he didn't
know if he wanted to fight it, either.

Finally turning off the water, he rinsed himself before he got dressed, and left the bathroom to
go help Hermione with preparing lunch.

He would just need to be careful around her for the time being, and maybe having agreed on
helping her with her training wasn't the smartest move in that sense.

-->



3. Training, Part II
--------------------



**Disclaimer:** Not mine, otherwise Harmony would have sailed.

**A/N:** My reply to the “Vigilante” challenge by Leochick, you can find it here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26730
. Hope you will enjoy the story, and please if you read review and let me know what you think of
it, ok?

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

**The Vigilante**

**Chapter Three: Training, part II**

A couple weeks passed with the two of them going to run together every morning, then meeting at
night for the rest of the training.

It was after one of those sessions, both of them being sweaty and tired, lying on the floor
catching their breath that Hermione asked Harry for some pointers on flying.

He looked at her with his eyebrows raised, wondering why she would want to learn how to fly when
she had always hated it before.

“It's just something I feel I have to learn, even if I'm not ecstatic to do so. I guess
I can go on with our training routine on my own now, I feel I have a good grasp on it although I
admit working out with company is much more fun that doing it on your own” she said with a smile
and Harry grinned back.

“So you suggest from now on we meet for some flying lessons instead of running or training?” he
asked, and she nodded.

“I think it would be for the best, so that I don't require too much of your time. I feel
like I'm monopolizing you these days” she joked, and he rolled his eyes.

“It's not like there is someone waiting for me at home, you know” he said with a smile,
nudging her on the shoulder. She stuck her tongue out at him in retaliation.

“Mature, Granger” he said, deadpanned, before forcing himself to stand up. “I guess I better go
and catch some sleep” he sighed then, and she stood up too. Walking him to the door, she once more
thanked him for his help.

“You don't know how much this means to me” she said, and he just grinned, nodding.

“No problem, Mione. You know you did much more for me back at Hogwarts. You'll just have to
tell me why you go through all of this, one day, though” he smirked, and she snorted.

“You know if I don't want to, I'll never tell you, right?” she said, playing with her
wand, and Harry's eyes widened.

“Ok, ok, I know when to pick my battles, and a duel with you is the last thing I'd willingly
step into” he said, kissing her on the forehead before Apparating away to his flat, leaving
Hermione to lean on her door, sighing, as she touched the spot where he had kissed her, knowing she
would have to take care of her arousal on her own once more that night.

The next day, Harry arrived just after work and brought his Firebolt with him

“Ready for your first flying lesson?” Harry asked.

She nodded a bit warily, wondering if she was really doing the right thing.

“Don't worry, we will take it easy today. Just a bit of flying around together on my broom,
so that you get acquainted with the feeling of being up in the air, then tomorrow we will start
working on your technique”

“You want me to fly with you on your broom?” Hermione asked, wondering if she had heard
right.

“Yup” Harry said, motioning for her to come, as he turned and headed outside the building.

Hermione followed soon, her mind reeling. A wizard and a witch, flying together on a broom…that
was one of the many romantic images the Wizarding world offered, and the brunette felt a blush come
to her cheeks at the prospect of sharing such a situation with Harry.

He instructed her to get on in front of him, and then he followed suit, his arms moving around
her to grab the handle of the broom. Slowly, he kicked off, and Hermione fought the urge to snap
her eyes closed.

“Relax” he whispered in her ear, making her shiver, and not because the chilly air of the night
quickly descending upon them. That was not the best way to have her relax, she thought.

“You know I won't let you fall, right?” he added then, and she nodded, a small smile gracing
her lips. She trusted him completely, and slowly relaxed, her body leaning against him, and she
swore she heard him sigh contentedly when she did.

When they were finally high in the sky, she gasped. The scenery was truly breathtaking from up
there, the stars and the moon seemed so close, almost at arm length, and under them London lay, her
inhabitants minding their business, unaware of the couple watching them from over their heads,
protected by Disillusionment Charms to avoid being spotted.

Harry moved over the town, slowly at first, then gaining speed, attempting some mildly bold
moves, now and then one arm circling Hermione's waist as he secured her position on the broom
and loving the feeling coming from the contact.

She shrieked now and then, when he got a bit carried away with the speed, but overall it was a
pleasurable experience. She was once more amazed at his ability as a flier, and knew she would
never be able to repeat some of those moves with the easiness he did them, not even if she
practiced for years.

When they finally landed again, Hermione insisted on cooking dinner for him, and Harry knew he
couldn't refuse without her suspecting he was avoiding her for some reason. He had started
taking a shower at his own flat after their nightly training. She always reminded him there was no
need as long as he had a change of clothes with him.[Author ID1: at Thu Apr 17
09:44:00 2008 ]Â [Author ID1: at Thu Apr 17 09:44:00 2008 ]

So, he accepted, knowing it would be torture for him to see her leave the bathroom in only a
towel, and knowing he would need the best of his self control to rein in his lust for her. But he
was confident he could manage, as long as it happened now and then, not every day.

It was hard enough to have to run and train with her, when she was wearing so little, and see
her everyday at the Ministry during their working hours, without snogging her senseless or taking
her against the nearest wall.

While Hermione showered, Harry was sitting in the living room, mentally preparing himself for
the sight he would be met with in a few minutes. However, when she appeared in the doorway, a white
towel wrapped around her body, her brown curls still wet, and told him the bathroom was all his,
the raven haired young man knew whatever he did to prepare himself, such a sight would always
affect him.

Struggling to maintain control and not do something he might regret, he quickly entered into the
bathroom, letting the cold water of the shower spray calm him down.

The rest of the evening went on quietly, both of them sneaking glances at the other, both having
a hard time keeping their feelings hidden, and yet both determined to not ruin their friendship
with a possibly meaningless fling, or so they told themselves.

Hermione had proved to be an excellent cook, and Harry thought her lasagne and roasted chicken
were the best he had ever eaten, even better than those from Molly, but be careful to no let her
know that!

When they were done with dinner, Harry helped her wash the dishes, and finally Apparated home
after thanking her for the delicious meal.

“It was nothing” Hermione blushed at the praise. “You're being so kind to help me, I thought
I could do something nice for you too” she whispered, and he grinned, pulling her in a hug.

“You didn't have to, but thanks all the same” he said, before releasing her and wishing her
good night. A couple moments later, he was gone with a soft pop.

Hermione sighed, and closed the door after her as she went to the living room for some duelling
practice with enchanted dummies.

That was a part of her training she didn't share with Harry for fear he would see through
her intentions and discourage her from going through with her plan. The fact he was helping her
with the physical part and the flying was going to be risky enough when she would start the second
part of the plan, but it couldn't be avoided.

It was well past midnight when she finally stripped to go to bed. While she brushed her teeth in
the bathroom, a healthy habit she had picked up from her parents, them both being dentists, she
noticed something crumpled in a corner of the room, and went to pick it up, realizing it was
Harry's shirt.

With a mischievous smile, she Scourgified it, then removed her pyjamas top and slipped it on.
That night, she would sleep comforted and engulfed by Harry's musky scent, and the simple
thought made her feel giddy inside.

“Maybe this is a sign he will be on my side no matter what” she thought to herself with a smile
as she let sleep engulf her.

--

At the same moment, in his flat, Harry realized his shirt was missing.

“Must have forgotten it at Hermione's” he mumbled while he downed a Butterbeer. “I'll
get it tomorrow”

Minutes later, he was asleep too, his rest filled with a certain brunette witch and her hot,
luscious body, involving in pleasurable activities with him.

-->



4. Administering Justice
------------------------



**Disclaimer:** Not mine, otherwise Harmony would have sailed.

**A/N:** My reply to the “Vigilante” challenge by Leochick, you can find it here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26730
. Hope you will enjoy the story, and please if you read review and let me know what you think of
it, ok?

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

**The Vigilante**

**Chapter Four: Administering Justice**

It had been a month since Hermione had started her training, a month during which more trials
had turned out to be jokes, as the guilty were let walk away free. Finally, she felt confident
enough in her flying, one-on-one combat and duelling abilities to start handing out her own
justice.

It would be tiring, she couldn't leave her work altogether, so she would need to do it at
night, but it needed to be done.

While she was training, Hermione had also taken time to develop a costume for her to wear during
her “vigilante rounds”, so that she wouldn't be recognized. A tight black suit covered all of
her body, including her hair. Her face was covered by an equally black mask, and she had applied a
couple charms to change her voice when she talked through it too.

You can never know who you might encounter in these situations, and anything that might get her
recognized needed to be gone.

Her attire was completed by a couple of leather fitting gloves. Flexing her arms, Hermione
seemed satisfied enough with her job in developing a disguise, so she finally left, the shrunken
Firebolt she had bought hid in an easily accessible pocket.

With a last sigh, and hoping she wouldn't make a fool out of herself, she started looking
around the last known residence of Dolohov, one of the many who had escaped the life sentence to
Azkaban thanks to the corruption still lingering in the Ministry even after the second war.

Her wand was just a flick of her right wrist away, hidden in a concealed holster, and Hermione
felt confident she could “convince” Dolohov to turn himself in, if only she could find him.

Suddenly someone shouted behind her.

“Who are you?” she turned, and realized her target was exactly in front of her. He was already
pointing his wand at her heart, but with a quick roll she moved out of his sight, just to Apparate
behind the man.

Twisting his arm, she made him drop his wand, and kicked it away. Then she elbowed him in the
stomach, and he fell to the ground in pain.

“Antonin Dolohov, you will turn yourself in for your crimes, and spend your deserved time in
Azkaban” Hermione hissed menacingly, her voice sounding like one of an imposing military man.

“I won't do such a thing” the man sneered, and she kicked him hard in the face, before
firing a series of hexes at him, leaving him bruised and panting on the ground when she was
finished.

“Changed your mind yet?Â I can turn my wand on you a bit more if you are not convinced I mean
business” she teased him and the man widened his eyes in fear.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Think of me as a vigilante” she said, then tapped her wand against her left hand. “So, will you
turn yourself in or not?” she growled, aiming it again at his head.

“I will! I will! But for Merlin, don't kill me!” he whimpered, and Hermione snorted. “I
won't, if you keep your promise. If you don't, know that I'll find you again, and it
won't be pleasant” she menaced, before quickly vanishing in the darkness of the night, leaving
a bewildered and very scared Antonin Dolohov wondering what the hell had happened.

The man didn't sleep a minute that night, and was in the Ministry first thing in the
morning.

Harry was mildly amused at the man's tale, and that after all the atrocities he had
committed in his life, a “vigilante” could rough him up so much and scare the hell out of him so
that he would turn himself in. After all, he had corrupted the Minister to keep him out of prison
not more than three months earlier…

--

At lunch, he shared the news with Hermione, albeit still feeling a bit wary around her since he
kept having dirty dreams at night involving himself and the stunning witch currently sharing a
Caesar's salad with him.

She seemed amused, and smiled brightly when he told her how scared Dolohov had seemed.

“Funny, isn't it?” Harry said, seeing her expression, and grinning himself, as he took a sip
of his Butterbeer.

“Definitely” Hermione replied. Harry noticed she seemed to not have slept too well, as her eyes
looked a bit tired. “You ok, Mione? You seem tired…” he voiced his concerns, and Hermione just
shrugged, keeping her faÃ§ade but internally swearing at his uncanny ability to read her perfectly.
Going to punish criminals at night was not the best way to look rested and fresh when going to work
the next day.

“Didn't sleep too well last night” she admitted, knowing if she didn't Harry would only
press the matter more.

He nodded, still a bit worried but glad it wasn't anything important. “So, what do you think
of this vigilante? I don't know who he is, but he sure did a thorough job last night. Not that
I condone his methods, I mean, the ministry should deal with criminals, not a civilian, but hey, if
the Ministry is so corrupted…” he said.

“Well, it is not legal to go beating known murderers, of course, and it is dangerous too”
Hermione said, frowning like she was upset at the vigilante's antics, to cover her true
“identity”.

The rest of the day passed smoothly, and once she got home, Hermione gulped down some dinner,
then changed to go and do her new and self-appointed job.

It soon became a routine for her, and many criminals turned themselves in after being roughed up
by her. She was satisfied about how it was going, and knowing the Minister was growing more and
more anxious at her actions made her feel even more happy with herself.

The paper had started talking about her too, with an article on the front page after the tenth
criminal who had claimed to have been convinced to turn himself in by a vigilante.

**The Vigilante: Blessing or Nuisance?**

**By Rita Skeeter**

*Today we will talk about the lately risen Vigilante. This mysterious figure keeps*
*harassing* *criminals at night, forcing them to turn themselves in, and many see it as a
blessing that makes the Wizarding World more secure, eradicating the last remains of
You-Know-Who's Death Eaters, and other minor dark wizards too.*

*Many think the Ministry has been slacking off in that aspect, and this Vigilante is just what
our society needed to rid itself of the trash. We have interviewed one of the most famous Aurors,
Harry Potter, who seems to agree that with his unconventional methods, this vigilante is being more
effective than the Ministry regular forces in assuring important arrests.*

*Potter also mentioned the fact that the vigilante makes their work easier convincing the
criminals to turn themselves in because this avoids new trials, and the arrested can be immediately
brought to Azkaban**. He mentioned how trials have become unreliable lately.*

*When we asked him about that, considering one of his best friends, Hermione Granger, is often
in charge of those, Potter shrugged and said, “when there are stronger forces working against you,
there's little you can do”. He seems to imply that bribes were handed to keep those suspects
out of Azkaban in regular trials, although he never said it openly.*

*However, there are also many who think this Vigilance is a menace to our society.*

*“**He can't go around intimidating honest citizens and forcing them to voluntarily
be sent to Azkaban without any kind of proo[Author ID1: at Fri Apr 18 07:57:00
2008 ]**f.* *Mr. Dolohov, for example, was a most respectable member of our society,
and now he will have to spend years in Azkaban for nothing” Miss Dolores Umbridge told us. If I
have to be honest, I tend to agree with Potter's position, and would like nothing more than to
interview this vigilante to know his reasons”*

Hermione rolled her eyes at the article. “Figures that Umbridge would defend Dolohov and his
kind” she snorted, while Harry chuckled. She took his hand in her own, and gave him a soft
smile.

“Thanks for defending me” she said, and he gulped, mesmerized by those chocolate eyes.

“It was nothing. I just said what I thought” he replied with a sheepish smile which warmed her
heart. In fact, she wanted nothing more than to snog him senseless, but the fact they were in the
Ministry cafeteria prevented her from doing that. Merlin forbid what Skeeter might write if they
were caught kissing in such a public place!

When they were finally finished with lunch, Harry escorted her back to her office, and just
before she closed the door after her, he spoke, somewhat awkwardly.

“Would you like to have dinner together tonight?” he asked, fidgeting with his Auror robes while
looking hopefully at her.

-->



5. First Encounter
------------------



**Disclaimer:** Not mine, otherwise Harmony would have sailed.

**A/N:** My reply to the “Vigilante” challenge by Leochick, you can find it here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26730
. Hope you will enjoy the story, and please if you read review and let me know what you think of
it, ok?

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

**The Vigilante**

**Chapter Five: First Encounter**

When Harry was called into the Minister's office, he knew the man was pissed. He had a right
to be so, after all, because the mysterious vigilante had been operating at night for two months,
and every time he “convinced” some criminal to turn himself or herself in, the Ministry's
credibility on the matter of assuring the safety of the British Wizarding community decreased, and
with that, the Minister's credibility.

Darius Vunrabels was a charming man and had used that to his advantage in obtaining his current
position and understandably he didn't want to lose it now.[Author ID1: at
Fri Apr 18 07:57:00 2008 ]

Harry thought that if he really wanted to keep the position, maybe he should start acting like
he was a true leader and have all the peoples best interest at heart.Â One way to prove this was to
stop accepting bribes from those who wanted to stay out of Azkaban when they were know
murders.[Author ID1: at Fri Apr 18 07:57:00 2008 ]

The raven haired wizard had been really worried for his best female friend, and lately something
more, at least on his part, because the brunette had grown more and more irritable with each one of
her failures (which both her and Harry knew didn't depend on her abilities).

This vigilante had Harry's sympathy for another reason, then. Since his rising, Hermione had
been much more relaxed, and took her failures in the trials much better. Probably, Harry mused,
because she knew sooner or later the vigilante would force those who wormed their way out of the
justice's grasp to take responsibility for their actions.

So, yes, Harry really thought this vigilante was a good thing for the Wizarding World, whoever
he may be.

“Potter” the Minister acknowledged him.

“Minister” Harry nodded, taking a seat in front of the man.

“We have a dire problem, Auror Potter. This vigilante is making us look ridiculous, especially
the Department you belong to, and me as the Minister”

“With all respect, Minister” Harry interjected, “my department is not being diminished by the
vigilante's actions. If any, it is the MLE department, and the juries who are in charge of the
trials, that should worry about his actions. If anything, all the criminals he convinced to turn
themselves in proved we Aurors did our job well, since we had previously arrested all of them, just
to see them released after the trial” Harry said.

“Are you implying someone else is not doing their job well, Potter? Because, most of those
trials had been led by your dear friend Granger” the Minister nonchalantly said. “It seems
you're suggesting she wasn't able to bring them to justice. Maybe we should remove her, so
this vigilante wouldn't have to do his “job””

Harry's eyes darkened. “I attended all those trials, being part of the squad who arrested
the suspect, Minister, and I know for sure that any jury in the world would have declared them
guilty, with the facts Hermione presented them. Maybe it is someone else who should be removed,
someone who might care more for his pockets being full than the credibility of the post he
represents” Harry snapped, and the Minister glared at him.

“Potter, don't forget that I'm the minister and I can get you kicked out of the Auror
Department in no time, even with your perfect file and the suggestions to promote you as Head of
the Department”

Harry growled. “Are you blackmailing me, Minister? I assure you, your already low popularity
won't gain a single point if you do that”

Darius Vunrabels smirked. “Still, I can do that, Potter. Don't forget it. Now, on the
subject of this meeting, I trust you and your team will do your best to capture this vigilante.
He's a danger to the society, and needs to be brought in. This assignment has priority over
anything else you're working at the moment. I expect comforting results very soon, Auror
Potter”

And with that, Harry was dismissed. He had to take a long walk before returning to his office to
let off some steam after the conversation.

Nonetheless, he would do what the Minister had asked him to. If anything, he was curious to know
who this vigilante was.

--

It took Harry more than a month, considering that he wasn't really working as hard as he
should on the case, to get some useful info that would allow him to confront the vigilante.

The Minister had had to do some hasty press declarations to cover himself and Harry enjoyed the
fact a single stealthy man could put the most important person in Wizarding society under such a
large amount of stress and make his popularity fall so low.

Now, however, the moment had come to meet this man, and Harry waited, wand in hand, crouched in
a corner, near the house of Rabastan Lestrange.

The raven haired wizard had analyzed all the information on the mysterious man's activities,
and developed a pattern. It seemed that this vigilante was going to punish all of those who had
come clear from trails, following a chronological order. It hadn't thus been difficult to guess
who would be the “victim” tonight.

As predicted, Harry soon noticed a dark figure slithering through the darkness of the night, and
graciously landing in front of the door of the house.

From his position, Harry couldn't see too well, but he soon heard the door being smashed by
a Reducto, and then some cries of surprise from inside, some coming from a woman.

“Figures” Harry thought, rolling his eyes. Rabastan was known for his sexual habits, he would
pick a new mistress every night, it had been how they had captured him the first time, using an
undercover Auror to trap him.

Soon he noticed the scantily clad wench running away from the house, while male shouts came from
inside, followed by crashes and grunts of pain. It was evident Lestrange was getting a good lesson,
and Harry decided to wait for the vigilante to finish his thing before trying to arrest him.

It took another ten minutes before he heard the former Death Eater whimpering and promising he
would turn himself in the next morning. The voice of the vigilante didn't sound familiar to
Harry, so he guessed he didn't personally know the man.

Waiting for him to get out, Harry readied himself and cast a stunner at the quickly moving
figure. He missed, and the spell alerted the vigilante of his presence.

Harry was confident, he had used the time of his wait to set anti-Apparition wards around the
block and no one had ever bested him in a duel, excluding Hermione.

Soon, a stunner left the vigilante's wand, and Harry shielded himself, before casting a
volley of hexes at the retreating figure. He must have figured there were anti-Apparition wards in
place because he didn't even attempt doing that, just rolled out of the hexes paths with
exceptional speed, and Harry was impressed.

The duel lasted for a few more minutes, during which Harry wondered why the vigilante kept only
defending himself, casting a stunner now and then but mostly never attacking. If he could best
people like Lestrange and Dolohov so easily, why wasn't he trying to best Harry too?

Suddenly, as Harry had to duck behind a garbage bin to avoid a hex, the other man took a broom
from his pocket, enlarged it and took flight. Harry was soon after him on his Firebolt, but he
realized his mistake when the man managed to get past the anti-apparition wards, and vanished with
a soft pop.

“Bugger!” Harry swore under his breath, landing and, frustrated, kicking a pebble away with all
his force.

He then sighed, and Apparated home to take a long, hot relaxing shower.

If he wanted to best this man, he had to be more creative and find a way to stop him from
fleeing. Now it had become a personal matter, he wanted to know who the man was, how could he be so
fast at avoiding hexes and why didn't he attack more heavily to end the duel.

Too many questions, which threatened to give him a headache, so he resolved to forget about it
for a few hours.

--

Meanwhile, at Hermione's home, the brunette slumped on the couch, exhausted.

“That was close” she muttered under he breath. She could have fought Harry harder, and probably
end the duel faster, but she didn't want to harm him, even with childish hexes.

Luckily, he had only placed wards on the surroundings, and the flying lessons he gave her were
enough to make her fast enough to escape him. But if he was on her tail she knew it was just a
matter of[Author ID1: at Fri Apr 18 07:57:00 2008 ] time before they would
have another confrontation[Author ID1: at Fri Apr 18 07:57:00 2008 ].

She needed to be ready.

-->



6. Second Clash
---------------



**Disclaimer:** Not mine, otherwise Harmony would have sailed.

**A/N:** My reply to the “Vigilante” challenge by Leochick, you can find it here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26730
. Hope you will enjoy the story, and please if you read review and let me know what you think of
it, ok?

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

**The Vigilante**

**Chapter Six: Second Clash**

Harry reported to the Minister about how he had almost caught the vigilante last night.

The man seemed disgruntled at how the confrontation had ended, but nodded all the same.

“Good job, Potter. Keep it up, I'm sure we will catch him soon” Vunrabels said, dismissing
the Auror. Harry returned to his office, still thinking how to trap the vigilante. He hated failure
and the fact the man had managed to best him didn't go well with his pride.

Still, he knew he shouldn't let anger cloud his judgement, especially since his opponent was
so skilled.

All day he stayed there, mumbling to himself, planning several ways to approach the mystery guy
and arrest him, then discarding them based on what he had seen during their first meeting.

He analysed what had happened that night, focusing on two points. First, the man didn't
attack him, merely defend himself most of the time, like he knew Harry personally and didn't
want to harm him.

Then, there was the fact he didn't recognize the voice, which clashed with the idea the
suspect might be one of his friends. But, a spell could alter it to make it unrecognizable.

Finally, there was the broom escape. Sure, it didn't last long enough to let Harry catch up
with him, still the way he chose to escape seemed to convey the man was confident of his flying
abilities, especially because Harry's skill on a broom was well known in the Wizarding World.
Even more so, if the man really was one of his friends.

However, Harry had a really hard time figuring anyone he knew doing this, and with such grace
and speed in the movements. Surely not Ron, or the twins, who would use some of their trademark
jokes to attack the criminals.

Neville had grown out of his shyness, but he and broom would never go together.

Seamus and Dean didn't have enough interest in security matters to pull off something like
this. Plus, they weren't amongst the better fighters he knew.

This left him in the dark, as he had finished his options of people who knew him so well that
they would restrain themselves from attacking him, and were males.

He seriously didn't think a woman could be behind this, and public opinion seemed to back up
his beliefs.

Finally, as the sky started darkening with the descent of night, Harry sighed and left to go
home. There was no point in trying to corner the vigilante again, if he had not a plan to trap him
for good.

--

That night, Hermione nervously did her duty as vigilante, fearing Harry might show up again
anytime during her mission. She really didn't want to harm him but she also couldn't let
him know her true identity.

No one could know, as much as it pained her to keep it from Harry. She was also sure he would
approve, but the fact the ministry had issued an arrest warrant for her might force his hand to
bring her in, if he discovered the truth.

She couldn't take such a chance.

It was thus with a long sigh of relief that she arrived home after punishing another couple of
criminals, and threw her mask away, slumping on the couch.

Her body ached, and she jerkily shrugged out of her tight fitting black suit, and trudged to the
bathroom for a long, relaxing hot bath, where she could let her mind travel to a certain raven
haired young man, and how much she would like for him to be there with her in the bathtub. She
could certainly think of some things she wanted to do to him if they ever got in such a
situation.

An hand slipped between her legs, fingers dipping into her core, as she released a long moan,
dirty thoughts running through her mind, wondering how long she could still go before she jumped
the poor man.

She wasn't totally sure he would mind, though, seeing the hungry looks he had given her
lately.

--

A week had gone by, and Harry had tried to catch the vigilante again for two nights in a row
now, but didn't manage to spot him.

He was getting frustrated, because he had finally developed a plan to stop him Disapparating
away, and couldn't wait to test it in a real situation.

As he walked around the block, his ears strained to get the faintest sound of a fight happening,
he finally caught some shouting a few streets away.

He quickly ran toward the noises, and hid in a dark alley. There it was, the vigilante, his back
to him. When the beating was finished, he would have a really good chance to strike him.

Waiting, Harry watched the mysterious figure hitting repeatedly an already badly bruised burly
man that he couldn't recognize. He was sure however the blonde man had deserved the treatment
he was now enduring.

Finally, the beating came to an end, with the criminal who scurried away, promising to go to the
Ministry as soon as possible.

Harry tensed, and then fired his stunner, but the vigilante was quicker and rolled out of its
way.

Harry didn't stop and finally showing himself, he fired curse after curse at the man, who
just like last time only defended himself, deflecting Harry's spells or avoiding them, just now
and then firing a stunner.

It was going like Harry had planned it for now, and he kept the fight up. Finally, the vigilante
took his broom, restored it to its normal size between avoiding Harry's spells, and took off.
Harry was soon after him, and cast some anti-Apparition wards aimed at the back of the escaping
figure, who seemed much less quick in its movements when on a broom. He avoided the first two
spells from Harry but was hit by the third one.

Harry grinned and once they were past the local Anti-apparition wards, he grinned much more when
his target found out he couldn't Apparate away this time.

Harry pushed his Firebolt forward, trying to gain on his opponent, and he slowly but constantly
did, while they flew over Hyde Park. He was glad it was the middle of the night and they were
Disillusioned, because otherwise there would be hell to pay to Obliviate all the Muggles spotting
them.

The vigilante directed himself toward a group of tress, trying to lose Harry there, but the
raven haired wizard was a much more skilled flier and kept closing in.

--

“Fuck!” Hermione thought when she noticed how near Harry was now. “Brilliant, Granger, trying to
escape from Harry on his favourite mode of transportation, really bright” she berated herself,
losing focus on her flying for a moment.

Soon she realized her mistake when she hit a tree branch, and fell from her broom, toward the
ground.

“I knew it” she swore under her breath, just moments before a tremendous crash on the ground
made her right arm snap, as well as a couple ribs.

She moaned in pain, and could see Harry landing just near her, graciously as usual.

She knew then her days as a vigilante, and possibly as MLE officer, were coming to an end.

--

Harry approached the moaning figure of the vigilante with baited breath. It was evident the man
had something broken, and from the angle his right arm was bent, guessing what wasn't so
difficult. Harry suspected there might be more though.

However, that was not the first of his concerns. He had a mounting curiosity about the man's
identity, and so he slowly grabbed the mask and cautiously lifted it.

When he had completely removed it, he gasped, not believing his eyes.

-->



7. Surprise
-----------



**Disclaimer:** Not mine, otherwise Harmony would have sailed.

**A/N:** My reply to the “Vigilante” challenge by Leochick, you can find it here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26730
. Hope you will enjoy the story, and please if you read review and let me know what you think of
it, ok?

Thanks to my beta Gingercat!

**The Vigilante**

**Chapter Seven: Surprise**

*When he had completely removed it, he gasped, not believing his eyes.*

“Hermione” he whispered, awe permeating his voice.

“Hi Harry” she meekly muttered, wincing as that mere gesture brought her lots of pain from her
broken ribs.

Realizing her condition, Harry snapped out of his stupor, and with a few well placed healing
spells, he made her bones snap back in place. Hermione hissed at the sudden pain, but then she
realized she was healed, her bones whole again, just a lingering soreness pervading her right
side.

“I thought you needed Skele-Gro to mend bones” she said, looking at him questioningly. He
grinned.

“That's what Poppy makes the students believe, to discourage them from being reckless and
breaking their bones” he explained. “But there are healing spells to avoid drinking that awful
stuff” he added then, crinkling his nose at the memory of having to swallow the potion.

She smiled softly at him, then sighed.

“I guess you will have to bring me in now. The minister will be happy to resume his corrupted
ways, and I will lose my job. But it's been worth it, while it lasted” she wistfully said.

Harry smiled at her. “I'm really proud that you did this, Hermione. Our world truly needed a
vigilante since the Ministry is so corrupted. I admired whoever was doing the job, and maybe given
the training you went through I should have guessed it was you” he joked, and she blushed, making
her look even more adorable. The tight fitting suit that exalted her body did nothing to make her
less attractive, and giving Harry's new feelings for her, he was finding it hard not to
stare.

“Harry” she said, sensing his reluctance. “Just do what you have to do” she said, placing a hand
on his arm. “I'll be ok”

Harry's eyes focused on her own, green meeting brown, and he made a decision. To Hell with
the Minister, he wouldn't turn his best friend and the woman he was in love with in.

Leaning down, he swiftly captured her lips with his own, and gave her the time to back out of
the kiss. She didn't, instead she kissed him back, after a moment of shock, and asked entrance
with her tongue, meeting his own.

For minutes they remained there, on the ground, snogging each other senseless, tongues fighting,
clashing, hands roaming as they caressed the other's body.

When they finally had to part, Harry pulled her close.

“I won't turn you in, Hermione. You had the guts to do what I should have done long ago” he
said, his eyes alight with new determination. “No, I won't give Vunrabels the satisfaction of
keeping his post and continue corrupting the ministry. We didn't lose so much in the second war
to let things go on like they did when Fudge was Minister. Bribes won't allow criminals to
remain out of prison anymore” he said.

Hermione wondered what he meant to do.

“Harry, you've been given the assignment to capture the vigilante. You can't stall
forever, or you will risk losing the chance to become Head of the Department. Really, I'll be
ok” she said, trying to sound reassuring, but he wouldn't have it.

“I don't care, Hermione. Heck, I don't care if I lose my job. I'm rich enough to not
have to work and still be able to spoil my family, when I finally have one. So that is not a
problem. Doing what is right instead of what is easy, this is what I will do. Dumbledore always
believed that it's our choices that make us who we are, after all” he said, with a sad smile,
as he thought back to his deceased mentor.

Hermione knew she wouldn't be able to sway him from his decision, so she simply snuggled
close to him, enjoying the warmth, as they lay under the stars, gazing at the serene sky.

“What are you going to do, then?” she asked, after some minutes of complete silence.

“I will let you continue your job. And, I plan to join you in your rounds, if you will allow me.
At least, the papers will be partially right when they say the vigilante is a man” he added with a
smirk, and she rolled her eyes at him.

“Prat”

“But you love me for it” he smirked, kissing her on the top of her head.

“That I do” she admitted. “I have for a long time now. I was just too scared to tell you”

He nodded, understanding. He had been afraid too, once he realized his true feelings for
her.

Finally, he stood up, pulling her up with him.

“Let's go home” he huskily whispered in her ear, making her shiver.

“Ok” she agreed, picking up her broom, shrinking it, and then mounting on Harry's Firebolt,
his firm grip keeping her from falling, and Hermione completely enjoyed the trip back home, leaning
on his chest, feeling secure in the embrace of the man she loved.

--

In the following months, Harry kept his promise and joined Hermione in her rounds. She prepared
a second suit and mask for him, and she had to admit he really looked good in it, his grown muscles
flexing under the silky material making her feel hot through their “missions”.

It had become an habit for them to celebrate after a successful round with a heated shag in
Harry's flat, where she had moved a couple weeks ago.

Tonight was no exception, and both loved to joke on the Prophet's title the following
morning. Soon, the pressure on the Minister became too much, and Darius Vunrabels was forced to
step down.

New elections took place, and this time Kingsley Shacklebolt was elected for real, providing no
need for the two vigilantes to continue their job. However, their suits were neatly folded in their
closets, ready to be used shall a new need arise.

-->



